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Veterans spark swimmers

After the Michigan women's swimming team's startling victory in this weekend's Big Ten Championship, one can only wonder what spurred the team to such complete dominance.

Isn't there any parity in the Big Ten anymore?

Apparently not, as far as women's swimming is concerned.

This weekend the Wolverines flexed their collective muscle and basically put to rest any doubt about their position in the national rankings.

So how did Michigan achieve this standing?

The reason is really simple: while in Minneapolis, the Wolverines received a boost from two of their top upperclassmen. The return of junior Rachel Gustin and senior Beth Jackson helped Michigan to one of their best team performances in recent years.

Gustin returned from a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the season. The injury has been nagging; Gustin hasn't been able to compete since mid-January.

Jackson has been sidelined with mononucleosis. The ailment has kept her out of action since January. The co-captain missed the Wolverines' dual meets against Indiana and Ohio State and wasn't sure if she would be in shape for Big Tens.

The team was more than happy to have two of its top swimmers back in the fold.

"When you have a couple people who haven't swum a meet since early January, and they come in and step up and perform, that really picks the team up," Richardson said.

FOR THE RECORD: Several records were broken this weekend in Minneapolis. While many Michigan swimmers turned in strong individual performances, the Wolverines' strongest area might have been their relay teams.

Michigan set four Big Ten records in four different relay events.

The Wolverines took first in the 200-yard relay. Megan Gillam, Melisa Stone, Dana Van Singel and Jen Eberwein combined for a record time of 1:30.89.

Kim Johnson, Karen Bunting, Talor Bendel and Eberwein took the 800-yard freestyle relay with a record time of 7:17.23.

Jackson and Gustin combined with Bendel and Johnson to win the 400-yard medley relay. Their time of 3:42.18 was a new Big Ten record.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team continued its dominance with Eberwein, Bendel, Gillam and Stone combining for a record time of 3:19.77.

MICHIGAN'S MOST VALUABLE?: The Wolverines obviously enjoyed a whole slew of strong individual performances. So who was the team's most valuable swimmer?

There is no real award given out but, unofficially, the honor could go to the freshman Eberwein.

Competing in her first Big Ten Championship, Eberwein asserted herself as one of the Wolverines top young swimmers.

"It's always good to see a freshman step up," Bendel said. "She raced really faced."

Eberwein took first in the 50-yard freestyle by finishing with a record time of 22.86. Also, of the four record-setting relay teams, Eberwein competed in three of them.

Eberwein's classmates also were key in the Michigan victory.

"All the freshman really stepped up and that's great to see for the future of Michigan women's swimming," Bendel said.

UP NEXT: The Wolverines are now setting their sites on the team's two final tests -- Olympic Trials and the NCAA Championship. A healthy roster with the freshmen stepping up could be the key to Michigan winning its first NCAA Championship in school history.

The Wolverines had their best NCAA Championship performance last year. In 1995, Michigan finished second behind Stanford.

"As long as everyone stays healthy, we should have a really good shot at NCAAs," Bendel said.